Demolition contractors have moved on to the site of a Fishponds factory where a McDonald’s 'drive-thru' restaurant is due to be built – despite objections from campaigners.

Workmen from Longwell Green-based contractors Bath Demolition were pictured on-site at the former Bristol Tile Company premises in Fishponds Road on Tuesday December 12, putting up fencing and working inside the building.

Their presence, part of McDonald’s’ plans to convert the disused factory into a two-storey drive-thru, drew an angry response from local campaigners, who accused the fast-food giant of “ignoring” residents and the council planning process. But McDonald's insists the work being carried out at present is only to secure the site rather than demolish it - and does not need planning permission.

The rejection was the latest setback for the chain, which has failed with repeated applications to build a 150-seater restaurant on the site since 2015.

Mike Jempson, who is chair of campaign group Say No To McDonald’s in Fishponds (NoMacInF), said: “So much for customer care! Without any advance warning or formal response to the concerns expressed by local residents about asbestos dust and disruption to local wildlife, McDonald’s decide to start demolition just before Christmas.

Read More

“It will be a nightmare for all the families living close to the site. This is not the way to win hearts and minds.”

Planning permission is not required for 'pre-commencement work' before a demolition, according to McDonald's and the council

But spokespeople for both the council and McDonald’s say planning permission is not required in order to start the “pre-commencement work” for demolition.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work with Bristol City Council on meeting the pre-commencement conditions to the demolition, and until these have been met we cannot and will not begin with the demolition of the building.

Read More

“A fence and signs have been erected to maintain a safe and secure site, as we will start to internally strip out the building in the New Year. This stripping-out process does not require planning permission.”

Plans for a two-storey drive-thru at the old tile warehouse were originally submitted – and subsequently rejected by the council – in February 2015, amid traffic fears and concerns over the site’s close proximity to a nearby school.

But McDonald’s appealed the decision and, following a six-day public inquiry in May, the application was approved by a government planning inspector.

Read More

A council spokesperson said: “Bristol City Council recently refused an application to demolish buildings at the site of the new McDonald's restaurant in Fishponds, on the basis there wasn’t adequate information to ensure the demolition was properly and safely managed by the developer, taking into account impacts on transport, the environment and amenity of the area.

“McDonald’s planning agent has advised the council’s planning enforcement team that only internal works to the building are being carried out and it is not being demolished.”